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Towing from another vessel or assist vessel in distress - Gas carrier recommended actions

An emergency can occur at any time and in any situation. Effective action is only possible if pre-planned and practical procedures have been developed and are frequently exercised. The Contingency Plan provides guidelines and instructions that assist in making an efficient response to emergency situations onboard ships.



Towing/Assistance from another Vessel

Prepare to receive the assistance from salvage vessel in order to reduce costs and loss of time. The preparations will depend on the circumstances
The safety of the complement and the vessel must be a deciding factor in the choice of actions. When the vessel is in state of distress, the Master may have to make his decisions alone. He is obliged and he has the right to sign the Lloyd’s Open Form

Inform the salvage vessel of all relevant information regarding the vessel’s name, home port, call sign, tonnage, type of ship, position, description of the situation, type of danger or distress, oil pollution, equipment onboard, etc

If towing is necessary, the Company must be notified immediately so that hull insurance and shippers’ agreement may be obtained. If there is no danger to human lives, the approval of the Company, shippers and hull insurance must be obtained before the towing operation is started

Prepare a list towing equipment available, length, diameter, strength of the insurance wire (if any), other heavy wires and hawsers, anchor chains; the dimensions and safe working load of the towing shackles onboard, together with other possible equipment for towing

Liquefied natural gas ship underway
Fig:Liquefied natural gas ship underway

Remember that there exists an unqualified obligation to assist persons in distress. However, there are no such obligations for a master to assist in the salvage of a ship or its cargo, including towing.


Assist Vessel in Distress/Towing of Vessel in Distress

An obligation exists to assist persons in distress, but the Master is under no such obligation to assist or tow a vessel. However following to be considered prior assisting another vessel in distress.

i) Decide if a towing operation is the best practicable solution.

ii) Discuss the situation with the Chief Engineer regarding the use of the vessel’s engines for this purpose.

iii) Notify owner before any towing operation is initiated.

iv) Await management reply. The hull insurance and shipper’s agreement may have to be obtained.

v) Check own towing equipment. Put up a list of the insurance wire (if any), other heavy wires/hawsers, anchor chains, shackles, and other equipment. The dimension and strength of each of these items are needed.

vi) Find out, if possible, your own towing pull at your present draft by varying speeds.

vii) Consider - the required towing pull necessary to tow the vessel in distress.




viii) Make a plan of your poop deck with fairleads and bollards and find out which bollards have the necessary strength to be utilised for towing.

ix) Keep management well informed of the proceedings.

x) Note all activities in the logbook. Prepare a log extract of the incident when operations are ended.



Related Information:

Abandonship procedures - Immediate Evacuation By Own Survival Craft

Collision accident - Emergency procedure for Liquefied Gas carriers

Encountering High Winds and/or Waves - countermeasures

Salvage operation guideline





Abandonship procedures - Immediate Evacuation By Own Survival Craft

Collision accident - Emergency procedure for Liquefied Gas carriers

Encountering High Winds and/or Waves - countermeasures

Salvage operation guideline



External links :

  1. International maritime organization










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